Growing recognition of Indigenous suffering throws a shadow over Australia Day

In a new century, the meaning of Australia Day is not as clear-cut as it once seemed.

A LOT has changed in Australia since 1996, when the prime minister of the day, the Liberal Party's John Howard, decried what he called a "black arm-band view of history" - criticising a belief that "most Australian history since 1788 has been little more than a disgraceful story of imperialism, racism, sexism and other forms of discrimination".

Among Australia's First Nation peoples, the annual anniversary of the First Fleet's flag-raising ceremony on January 26, 1788, was never a day for celebration.